McKeon gives slumping Sanchez another mental break

Through Friday, Gaby Sanchez was 6 for his last 58 (.103).

SAN DIEGO — Gaby Sanchez in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres stranded seven baserunners. That was enough for manager Jack McKeon to give him another mental break.

In a 6-for-58 skid (.103) that included a 0-for-24 drought, Sanchez was not in Saturday's starting lineup. His batting average is down to a season-low .266.

"We just have to give him a day," McKeon said. "Hopefully he'll sit back a day or two and just relax a little bit, take the pressure off or something. He works so damn hard. He's a workaholic. He's got good work habits. Sometimes I wish he'd not work as hard. He's at the ballpark at 1 o'clock, running and hitting.

"My philosophy is sometimes when you get in a rut and keep doing that, you compound what you're doing wrong. Take a breather for a day or two or three. We know he's a pretty good hitter, but right now he's in a rut. …We need him. He was a big force earlier in the season."

Sanchez earned his first All-Star nod in large part for his numbers the first two months. As late as June 5, he was hitting .321. From June 6 through Friday, he was 50-for-234 (.214), including a .148 average (9-for-61) with runners in scoring position. Sanchez through Friday had gone 10 consecutive games without an RBI.

Doubling up

With Sanchez on the bench, McKeon gave Jose Lopez the start at first. A natural second baseman, Lopez played an inning at first Friday. He also saw a handful of games there while at Triple-A New Orleans.

Lopez is making sure McKeon finds a place for him on the field. Friday, he tied the team record with three doubles. Hanley Ramirez, who's done it four times, and Chris Coghlan had three in a game earlier this season. Fourteen different Marlins have done it.

"I wanted another one," said Lopez, who flew out to center in his final at-bat in the ninth off Heath Bell. "I'm recognizing pitches and hitting them hard."

Lopez entered Saturday's game 6 for his last 15 (.400) with four doubles, a homer and three RBI. The Marlins selected him from Triple-A earlier this month, about six weeks after they designated him for assignment. Lopez in his first go-round with the Marlins batted .103 in 12 games (29 at-bats).

Though he had the option of seeking employment elsewhere, Lopez accepted the assignment.

"What helped me was going to Triple-A," Lopez said. "I went down there happy, trying to find my swing again. Thank God I found it. I was doing everything possible to play relaxed there so they would call me up again. …I decided to stay here. I didn't want to go another organization and start over, not knowing anyone."

Martinez sent down

To accommodate Omar Infante on the roster, the Marlins after Friday's game optioned infielder Ozzie Martinez to New Orleans. They went that route instead of demoting one of their surplus pitchers. The Marlins currently are carrying eight relievers.